Prison term for Ukiah father who broke infant son's ribs

A Ukiah man who admitted punching his 2-month-old infant son with such force that six ribs were fractured was sentenced Tuesday afternoon in Mendocino County Superior Court to nine years in state prison.

Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Ann Moorman ordered that the father, Badyr Jabron Dowdell, 25, serve 85 percent of his nine-year prison commitment before he can be paroled, a limitation on credits due to the crime being classified as violent. "I know it's a long sentence but in this case justified," said Moorman during the sentencing hearing.

Six days before jury selection was scheduled to commence, Dowdell finally admitted to having beat the child in April 2012. Dowdell stands convicted of felony child abuse and also of having inflicted great bodily injury on a child under the age of 5 years.

Deputy District Attorney Heidi Larson argued Tuesday for a lengthy prison sentence, contending that Dowdell "has never really acknowledged what happened, nor has he accepted responsibility for what he did to the infant." Larson further argued that the defendant's admission of guilt -- instead of taking the facts before a Mendocino County jury -- should not lessen the consequences. "His infant son suffered six fractured ribs," emphasized Larson.

Dowdell originally claimed to investigators of the Ukiah Police Department that his son's injuries were the result of an accidental fall, and perhaps his subsequent "comforting" pats on the back of the boy.

Moorman listened to Dowdell speak on his own behalf before imposing sentence. "I love my son, and I'm sorry," Dowdell told the judge.

Moorman said a lengthy prison term was also warranted because Dowdell's criminal record at a young age already includes three prior felony convictions in Florida. "One of (his) prior convictions was for resisting arrest with violence," said Moorman.